Sap-spout.



N6. 729,330. PATENTED MAY-26., 1903. e. H. GRIMM.

SAP SPOUT.

APPLICATION FILED JUFE 30, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

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No. "729,330, t

' UNITED STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

OFFICE.

SAP-.SPOUT SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 729,330, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed June 30,1902. herial No. 113,771. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV HENRY GRIMM, a citizen of the United-States, and a resident of Rutlandfin the county of Rutlaud and State of Vermont,have invented a new and Improved Sap-Spout, of which the following is'a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to the gathering 0 sap from trees, such as sugar-maples and the like; and its objectis to provide a new and improved sap-spout arranged to allow the use of but one spout in the bore of a tree during the entire season and to insure proper and full extraction of the sap from the tree without danger of forming ice in the bore or causing the formation of sour sap liable to contaminate the fresh sap.

'lheinvehtion consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied, thetree being shownin section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spout. Fig. 4 is a cross sect-ion of the spout and bucket-cover, the section being.

on the line: 4 of Fig. 2.

Theimprovedspout A is preferably made from a single pieceof sheet metal bent into conical shape to readily pass with its apex end into the bore. B in a tree B from which the sap is to be extracted. The apex end of the conical spoutA is somewhat less in diam eter than the diameter of the bore B, and in the bottom of the-said spout nearthe apex end.

is formed an opening A, extending a short distance inward beyond theiuner face of the bark B of the tree, as plainly illustrated in the drawings. The apex end of the spout A is rounded off and is formed byflaps A integra'l with the piece of sheet metal, bent to ward each other in arch shape, withfltheadjacent ends of the flaps spaced apart to form slits A preferably two in number and extending diametrically to intersect each other at the center, as will be readily understood by reference 'to Figs. 2 and 3. The slits A in the apex end of the spout are sufficiently large to allow the sap passing into the bore to flow freely into the spout and from the latter into the bucket, and yet aslight contact of sap with slots A and aperture A will hermetically seal the bore, thereby'preventing the drying of the sap fibers. It is understood that the object in placing the aperture A in the bottom of the bore is to almost completely drain the bore of all sap that flows into the bore, thus preventing. any sap from remaining in the'bore and becoming sour and contaminating fresh incomingsap. The almost complete draining of the bore from sap prevents freezing of sapin the bore, it being understood that such freezing of the sap tends to. loosen the spout, thereby allowing the sap on subsequent thavtiing to leak out between the wall of the bore, and the outside of the spout, and thus become lost.

The outer or base portion of the spout A,

as shown in' Figs. 1 and 2, is adapted to be engaged by the eye 0 of a hook 0, adapted to hook into an opening D in one side of a bucket D toisuspend the letter from the spout, so thatthe base or outer end of the spout discharges the sap into the said bucket.

A In using thespout at the beginning of the season itis driven into the bore B until the draining-opening Al is somewhat beyond the bark B as previously described, and when the sap begins .to flow slowlywas the season advances then the operator removes the spout and reams outzthe bore Bfand then drives the spout-back again into the bore, but somewhat farther in, owing to 'the enlargement of the "bore'bythe; reaming'process. This may-be;repeated .several times during the season, so as to insure at. all times a proper flowing of the sap into the bore B and from the latter into the spout to the bucket D.

In order to permit convenient removal of the spout from the bore for the purpose above mentioned, I provide the sides of the spout near the base end with transversely-alined or registering aperturesA, into which a pin, nail, or like device may be inserted to form a handle for turning the spout, and thus readily loosenin git for removal from the bore.

The side edges of the piece of sheet metal from which the spout is formed abut against each other at the top of the spout, thus forming a longitudinal seam which tends to close tightly on driving the spout into the bore.

By the arrangement described it is only necessary to bore a single hole in a tree, and the same spout is used during the entire season, and it is not necessary to blaze the tree by cutting off a portion of the bark, as is so frequently necessary with other spouts heretofore used. It is thus evident that the life of the tree is greatly prolonged. The operator can readily select the sappiest portion of the tree to bore the hole in for the spout A, it being understood that the spout on account of being tapering readily holds in the hard bark B and does not compress the fibers of the tree and prevent the sap from flowing freely to the bore and into the spout.

The bucket D, as illustrated in Figs. land 2, is normally covered by a cover E in the form of a flat plate provided at one end and at the under side with a socket E, fitting loosely onto the base end of the spout A, and the said socket E is formed on its top with a longitudinally-extending slotted shank E for securing the socket to the cover and for receiving lugs A extending integrally from' the sheet metal of the spout, at the top thereof at the base end, so that the socket E is held from turning on the spout, and consequently the cover E is securely held in position over the open or top end of the bucket D. The socket E is preferably made cylindrical and suificiently large to fit loosely on the base end of the spout A to allow the cover E to slant downward and outward from the spout with the outer or free end of the cover resting on the outer edgeof the bucket.

In order to securely hold the socket E in position against lengthwise disengagement on the spout, I provide the socket E with apertures E registering with the apertures A in the sides of the spout A, and the said registering apertures E A are adapted to receive a pin, nail, or like device to hold the socket E against slipping 0d the base end of the spoutA. The inner edge of the lugs A forms a stop or abutment for the eyes 0' of the hook C, so that the latter is not liable to slip off the spout when supporting the bucket D.

By the arrangement described the cover E can be readily lifted to inspect the contents of the bucket D, and the latter can be readily turned over, so as to empty its contents, it being understood that the hook 0 allows such movement of the bucket. Thus the cover need not be removed from the spout when emptying the bucket.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A sap-spout of approximately conical form, the apex end thereof having flaps inclined toward each other, slits being formed between the adjacent flaps, said spout also having an aperture provided on its bottom near the inner end, thus forming an opening for the sap, and registering apertures also formed near the base end of said spout for the insertion of a tool to remove the spout from the tree, substantially asset forth.

2. A sap-spout of approximately conical form, whereby said spout may fit any size bore, the apex of said spout being formed with flaps separatedto form transversely-arranged crossing slits, the spout also having a sap-aperture'formed in the bottom thereof, and upwardly-extending lugs formed at the base end of said spout, substantially as set forth.

3. A metallic sap-spout of approximately conical form, provided with a series of flaps at the apex end thereof, the flaps of the series being bent toward each other to leave slits between the adjacent flaps, the spout being provided in its bottom portion near the inner end with an opening for the sap and also registering apertures in the side of the spout for the insertion of a tool to turn the spout, and radially-extending parallel lugs formed'at the-base of said spout, substantially as set forth.

4. A sap-spout made conical in shape, having an inlet at the apex end and formed at the top at its base end with integral lugs, and a cover having a socket for engaging the base end and the lugs, the socket extending on the underside of the cover and having its axis at angles to the cover, as set forth.

5. A sap-spout made conical in shape, having an inlet at the apex end and formed at the top at its base end with integral lugs, and a cover having a socket for engaging the base end and the lugs, the socket and spout having registering openings for the insertion of a pin to secure the cover in position on the spout, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV HENRY GRIMM.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. KRAUS, A. H. PIERCE. 

